U.S. HISTORICAL INSTRUCTION S.B. 209:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 209 (as introduced 3-17-15) (Senate-passed version)
Sponsor: Senator Patrick J. Colbeck
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to do the following:
-- Encourage the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy (PSA) to provide instruction that focused on core principles of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Michigan Constitution, as described by the bill.
-- Allow a school district or PSA to develop curricula and materials for the instruction described by the bill that were aligned with the State Board of Education's recommended model core academic curriculum content standards.
-- Require the State Board of Education, by May 1, 2016, to update the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards to ensure that they covered the instruction described in the bill.
-- Require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure that State assessments include questions related to the instruction and historical documents described in the bill.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Topics of Instruction
The bill would encourage the board of a school district or board of directors of a PSA to provide instruction that focused on the following topics during the school year in a grade- and age-level appropriate manner for all of its pupils in grades K to 12:
-- The core principles of the Declaration of Independence (specifically including language contained in the preamble).
-- The core principles of the United States Constitution (specifically including the preamble, Articles I through V, and the First, Second, and Tenth Amendments).
-- The core principles of the State Constitution.
Under the bill, a school district or PSA, and its professional school personnel, could develop curricula and materials for the specified instruction that were grade- and age-level appropriate, and aligned with the State Board recommended model core academic curriculum content standards developed under Section 1278.
Curriculum & Assessments
Section 1278 of the Code requires the State Board of Education to develop, and periodically update, recommended model core academic curriculum content standards. The standards
encompass academic and cognitive instruction, but do not include attitudes, beliefs, or value systems that are not essential in the structure of society and the responsibilities of citizens in society. The bill would require the State Board, by May 1, 2016, to update the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards for each grade level for which there was a State assessment for social studies to ensure that they covered the instruction described in the bill.
Beginning with assessments conducted during the 2015-2016 school year, for each grade level for which there was a State assessment for social studies, the Superintendent would have to ensure that State assessments included questions related to the instruction described in and the documents enumerated in the bill, including at least the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
MCL 380.1278 et al. Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.